Compare Subaru Outback

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The Outback is a great vehicle
with a devoted following, but Subaru isn't the only company
making wagons, crossovers, or small SUV's. (What you call
them depends on who you ask.) Every year there's a new crop
of models from other companies to choose from. With any model from
any company, there are different trims that come with different
features, and it can be tough sometimes to figure out whether or not
you're getting a good deal. We want to make that a little
easier for you, so we put together a comparison of standard features
available on the base models for the Subaru Outback, Audi allroad,
Volvo V60, and Ford Edge.

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2016 Subaru Outback

Car and Driver likes the
Outback: The Outback is a supremely likable vehicle, thanks
to its roomy and comfortable interior, huge and usefully shaped
36-cubic-foot cargo hold, and standard all-wheel drive. For more
space, the 60/40-split rear seats fold completely flat at the behest
of trunk-mounted levers or buttons atop each backrest. Despite its
SUV-like plastic exterior trim and enhanced ride height, the Outback
drives like the Legacy sedan, with commendably well-controlled body
roll, a compliant yet planted ride, and accurate steering.

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Outback standard
features

Features that let you
do

Qualities for comfort and
peace of mind

All wheel drive

2700 lbs. of towing
capacity

35.5 / 73.3 cubic feet of
cargo space

175 horsepower / 174
lb-ft of torque

Roof rails

8.7 ground
clearance

Highest IIHS Safety
Rating possible

6.2 HD
touchscreen with Bluetooth, USB

32/25 mpg

X-Mode

$24,995 MSRP

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In a stance that will surprise
no one, we love the Outback.

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2016 Audi allroad

As a butched-up
wagon, the Allroad lacks true off-roadability, but as all-weather
transport, it hits the mark. Plus, we're big fans of
wagons, and with a maximum of 53 cu ft of cargo space, the Allroad
meets the needs of most buyers. A 252-hp turbo 2.0-liter four teams
with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic; all-wheel drive is
standard. It's competent on the highway and easily tackles
country roads thanks to its Offroad mode. And it's far more
fun to drive than a comparably priced crossover. -Car and
Driver

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allroad standard
features

Features that let you
do

Qualities for comfort and
peace of mind

All wheel drive

27.6 / 50.5 cubic feet of
cargo space

220 horsepower / 258
lb-ft of torque

Roof rails

7.1 ground
clearance

Leather seats

Bluetooth

28/21 mpg

Panoramic sunroof

Front fog lights

$42,700 MSRP

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We love that it features all
wheel drive standard, and it has some great features like fog lights
and the sunroof (which are options on the Outback). We don't
love as much that the Audi allroad wasn't rated by the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The allroad seems like a
great vehicle; however, dollar for dollar, it's a hard sell
with the rest of the options out there. At nearly twice the cost of
an Outback 2.5i. With all the money saved between the two, you could
upgrade your Outback to your heart's content, get all the
features you like in the allroad and a dozen more, and still come way
under the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price of the base allroad. If
you're thoroughly committed to an Audi, though, we see the
appeal.

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2016 Volvo V60

US News, known for their
Rankings and Reviews (their website is rankingsandreviews.com, after
all), was mixed on the V60. Testers praise the 2016 Volvo
V60's lively engines, stylish interior and many safety
features, but they are disappointed in its lack of cargo space or
rear-seat legroom...Powering the 2016 Volvo V60 is a turbocharged
four-cylinder engine that reviewers report delivers strong
acceleration and plenty of power. An eight-speed automatic
transmission is standard, and test drivers say it shifts
smoothly.

(Car and Driver tested a
loaded 2017 V60, and they were quite happy with it. We're
trying to figure out bang-for-the-buck from base models, though, so
unfortunately, as good as a loaded V60 Polestar is, we want to know
how the base model performs.)

V60 standard features

Features that let you
do

Qualities for comfort and
peace of mind

Front wheel drive

3500 lbs. of towing
capacity

43.8 cubic feet of cargo
space

240 horsepower / 258
lb-ft of torque

Roof rails

7.1 ground
clearance

Highest IIHS Safety
Rating possible

Bluetooth

28/20 mpg

Adaptive Cruise
Control

$36,150 MSRP

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The Volvo V60 has a lot of
things we like: great towing, a great IIHS rating, and Adaptive
Cruise Control. At an MSRP over $11,000 higher than the Outback which
also has those things (plus all wheel drive), it's hard to
get as excited about it. Car and Driver did really enjoy the Polestar
trim of the V60, but like the allroad, it's possible to pick
up all those goodies and more by upgrading your Outback and
saving your money.

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2016 Ford Edge

The Ford Edge did well but not
great at US News. The 2016 Ford Edge is in the middle of
the pack in our midsize SUV rankings. Our analysis of professional
reviews and data shows that critics like the Edge's
responsive handling and powerful Sport trim, but they find the base
engine's acceleration disappointing. The Edge has plenty of
high-tech features. The center stack, however, has a somewhat generic
appearance that detracts from the overall feel of the
interior.

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Edge standard
features

Features that let you
do

Qualities for comfort and
peace of mind

Front wheel drive

1500 lbs. of towing
capacity

39.2 / 73.4 cubic feet of
cargo space

245 horsepower / 275
lb-ft of torque

7.9 ground
clearance

Bluetooth

26/18 mpg

Hill Start Assist

$28,700 MSRP

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The Ford Edge was rated good
in most IIHS categories, but is not a Top Safety Pick. With front
wheel drive, the lowest gas mileage of any of the four vehicles, and
all the fun features reserved for the costlier trims, the Edge gives
us a little pause. It has solid towing and good ground clearance,
which are not to be sneezed at, and it has an MSRP under 30k.
However, the Outback has solid towing, more ground clearance, all
wheel drive, a better safety rating, and a lower MSRP to boot. If you
can find a screaming deal on a Ford Edge, it's definitely a
vehicle worth looking at. We sell used Ford vehicles, and it's
entirely possible we'll have a better
deal on a Ford Edge.

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Summary

We like the Outback. We just
do. It comes with the greatest combination standard features, the
highest safety rating, and the lowest MSRP. There's a reason
that US News rates it their #1 wagon. When it comes down to it, the
base model that gives you the most for your dollar is the Outback.
And the features that the Outback doesn't have standard that
the allroad does, say, like the moon roof / sun roof and fog lights
are easy upgrades to get on the Outback and still save yourself over
$10,000.

The allroad, V60, and Edge are
all pretty well-liked in the higher trims. But the high trim Outbacks
are pretty beloved on their own and will continue to come in at a
lower cost to you. The Outback can give you all the comfort and fun,
and with great towing, the best ground clearance, standard roof
rails, and huge amounts of cargo space, it will also let you do the
most.

All efforts have been made to
assure accurate information; information was pulled from
manufacturers' websites.

Safety ratings are based on IIHS
data which includes accessories and features that may or may not be
available to base models.